The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) leading economies have urged China to “press Russia” to end its invasion of Ukraine and withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory.
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In a communique issued on May 20, the G7 leaders, who are meeting for a summit in Hiroshima, Japan, said they “encourage China to support a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including through direct dialogue with Ukraine.”
The statement came as a French aircraft delivered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Japan to participate in the meetings.
Zelenskiy held bilateral talks with G7 members on May 20 and will participate in a summit session on May 21. He also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and was due to meet with the leader of Brazil, two countries that have not joined the international condemnation of Russian aggression.
The G7 statement added that the bloc seeks “constructive and stable relations” with Beijing and reaffirmed its “stated one-China policies.” The G7 urged Beijing to pursue “a peaceful resolution” of its relations with Taiwan. It also rejected China’s militarization of the South China Sea and its territorial claims there.
China has claimed control over almost the entire South China Sea, including areas claimed by Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
In reponse, China late on May 20 slammed the group communique, saying the G7's "approach has no international credibility whatsoever."
"The G7 insisted on manipulating China-related issues, smearing and attacking China," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said the statement was “totally straightforward.”
“It is not hostile,” Sullivan said. “It’s just direct and candid.”
In another statement, the G7 urged Iran to stop supplying drones that Russia uses “to attack Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.”
Moscow and Tehran have denied that Iran has supplied such drones, despite compelling evidence to the contrary.
The G7 includes the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, and Canada.